What a star. What a night!

8 June 2017

Rock legend Sir Rod Stewart delivered a show to remember after paying a much-anticipated first visit to Shrewsbury

What a treat for the thousands packed into the Greenhous Meadow.

He promised the hits and that's just what the delighted crowd got, the showman's renowned qualities as an entertainer shining through as soon as he appeared on the huge stage set up in front of the away stand.

Initially wearing a glittering gold jacket, before a number of changes, Sir Rod quickly dipped into his extensive back catalogue, with many immediately on their feet as they belted out the words to the songs they know and love so well.

"Thank you very much for coming out tonight", he told them. And how they roared back their approval.

You Wear it Well, Baby Jane - that really had the crowd dancing in the aisles - and then he sat himself down for a glorious Downtown Train.

Resplendent in a sharp blue suit, the 72-year-old launched into The First Cut is the Deepest. Cue another mass sing along. It was that kind of night.

There was also a nod to his early days in The Faces as he treated the audience to Ooh La La before he played You're in my Heart.

As the rain started to fall, Sir Rod told the crowd "we will carry on" as men with brooms appeared on stage to help with the mop up operation.

Then the crowd were up out of their seats again for Da Ya Think I'm Sexy? before the anthemic Sailing had people all around the stadium reaching for the light buttons on their mobile phones. It made for quite a sight.

Queues of expectant fans had earlier made their way along Oteley Road for the first gig staged at the home of Shrewsbury Town since the visit of Sir Elton John six years earlier.

The stadium had been impressively transformed into a concert venue, with Sir Rod playing the first of two mainland UK gigs ahead of this weekend's headline slot at the Isle of Wight Festival.

With the stands packed and thousands of seats covering the pitch, the early evening drizzle did little to dampen the spirits before support act The Sisterhood, fronted by Sir Rod's daughter, Ruby, and Alyssa Bonagura, warmed the crowd up nicely with their melodic blend of country rock.

Then, as the clock moved towards 8.30pm, it was time for the main event as the main man appeared to huge cheers.

It was certainly a night to remember - the night Sir Rod Stewart came to town.